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Scanty coal may hit power sector: panel

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Painting a grim picture of coal supply, an inter-ministerial committee has estimated that the country will be faced with an acute shortage in meeting the requirements of power sector during the 11th Plan period. This will have an adverse impact on the power scenario.

A meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coal Coordination Committee here said a “realistic exercise” conducted by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to estimate coal requirement year-wise up to the end of the Plan period put the shortfall at between 60 million tonnes and 100 million tonnes.

“The CEA considered the requirement of those power projects which are under construction and those which are likely to be awarded in two or three months. Taking into account the supply available from Coal India and captive mines which are being developed, there is likely to be a shortfall of 66 million tonnes during the last year of the 11th Plan,” a senior Ministry official said.

However, the Planning Commission informed the meeting that the shortfall could touch 100 million tonnes.

It was also pointed out that the Coal Ministry had given linkage only for the first unit of some of the power projects. It would not be possible for developers to place orders for a plant or achieve financial closure if only one of the two or more units was given linkage.

There were also problems in moving coal by rail to the Koderma, Dadri and Hissar projects, it was noted at the meeting, chaired by Power Secretary Anil Razdan.

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